# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2204
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44069 "2020-04-20T12:57:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Uh, guys, while I’m sure that some people calling for the restrictions to be relaxed are just heartless bastards, some folks calling for that are doing so because they want to save lives. Yes, covid-19 kills people. So do the shutdowns. Overreact, and more people die than if you react the right amount. And you ever notice that the people calling for the extreme measures to fight the virus are never volunteering to be the ones to die from their overreactions? > > I know that it’s hard to figure out the right amount of reaction. That’s why we have professionals who have been working on that problem for a very long time, and in great detail. Nobody’s listening to them. > > Like, at the time that Gov. DeWine of Ohio shut down all schools in the state indefinitely, the CDC’s recommendation was to close down a school for three weeks, if there was a diagnosis of a student or staff member. **Shutting down one school at a time, for three weeks, when there’s a diagnosis at that school, is very, very different from shutting down all of them, forever, when there were only five diagnoses in the entire state.** Are they afraid of coming in last? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44070 "2020-04-20T13:03:14Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I am not entirely clear on why you should need to provide a reason to get an absentee ballot … I don’t necessarily oppose mail-in ballots (especially given the shut-downs) but … _ **The secret ballot was a fundamental building-bloc of democracy. A secret ballot cannot be purchased or coerced.** _ Do you think hubby might ask to look at wifey’s ballot before she mails it in? How many wives are intimidated by this? There ARE very good reasons to ensure ballot secrecy. But, yes, there are many far bigger problems in modern American “democracy.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44071 "2020-04-20T13:25:22Z")
And now, here’s some Republican Stupidity from Idaho (with a dash of antisemitism): [Idaho Republican lawmaker says stay-at-home orders are ‘no different’ to sending Jews to concentration camps and compares GOP Gov. Brad Little to Hitler after he extended lockdowns until the end of April](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8235023/Idaho-lawmaker-says-stay-home-orders-no-different-sending-Jews-concentration-camps.html) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44072 "2020-04-20T13:38:46Z")
Anybody else get an e-mail offering to guide you to the advantages of TrumpCare? “Get matched with affordable TrumpCare plans at (Scams 'R US)…” (Not the real name as it appears…) And the horse upon in which you rode. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44073 "2020-04-20T13:41:07Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I don’t necessarily oppose mail-in ballots (especially given the shut-downs) but … > > _ **The secret ballot was a fundamental building-bloc of democracy. A secret ballot cannot be purchased or coerced.** _ > > Do you think hubby might ask to look at wifey’s ballot before she mails it in? How many wives are intimidated by this? > > There ARE very good reasons to ensure ballot secrecy. But, yes, there are many far bigger problems in modern American “democracy.” In-person voting isn’t necessarily secret, though. A husband could insist on going into the booth (or standing over her shoulder in those little privacy desk things they use)with his wife and as long as his wife is cool with it and confirms to the poll workers that she wants “help”- that is perfectly legal. You are allowed to take anyone you want with you to help you vote - unless that person is your employer or union rep. > **[sec208-English\_0.pdf](https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/sites/default/files/2016-09/sec208-English_0.pdf)** > > 914.09 KB ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44074 "2020-04-20T13:46:28Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I don’t necessarily oppose mail-in ballots (especially given the shut-downs) but … > > _ **The secret ballot was a fundamental building-bloc of democracy. A secret ballot cannot be purchased or coerced.** _ > > Do you think hubby might ask to look at wifey’s ballot before she mails it in? How many wives are intimidated by this? > > There ARE very good reasons to ensure ballot secrecy. But, yes, there are many far bigger problems in modern American “democracy.” The US did not have secret ballots for the first century of its existence (I like secret ballots, but the US got away without it for a fair amount of time). ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44075 "2020-04-20T13:56:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Uh, guys, while I’m sure that some people calling for the restrictions to be relaxed are just heartless bastards, some folks calling for that are doing so because they want to save lives. Yes, covid-19 kills people. So do the shutdowns. Overreact, and more people die than if you react the right amount. And you ever notice that the people calling for the extreme measures to fight the virus are never volunteering to be the ones to die from their overreactions? How many people have the shutdowns killed? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44076 "2020-04-20T14:05:01Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > In-person voting isn’t necessarily secret, though. A husband could insist on going into the booth (or standing over her shoulder in those little privacy desk things they use)with his wife and as long as his wife is cool with it and confirms to the poll workers that she wants “help”- that is perfectly legal. > > You are allowed to take anyone you want with you to help you vote - unless that person is your employer or union rep. > > [https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/sites/default/files/2016-09/sec208-English\_0.pdf](https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/sites/default/files/2016-09/sec208-English_0.pdf) I’l just leave [this](https://images.app.goo.gl/QPmctSzK9a1BZbou6) here. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44077 "2020-04-20T14:07:23Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > And now, here’s some Republican Stupidity from Idaho (with a dash of antisemitism): > > [Idaho Republican lawmaker says stay-at-home orders are ‘no different’ to sending Jews to concentration camps and compares GOP Gov. Brad Little to Hitler after he extended lockdowns until the end of April](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8235023/Idaho-lawmaker-says-stay-home-orders-no-different-sending-Jews-concentration-camps.html) I’ve been posting about dipshit Heather Scott as well as her counterpart across the border in WA, Matt Shea, over in the “Fucking idiot coronavirus-loving rednecks in Michigan” thread. A couple of fucking morons with too many moron-backers that re-elect them. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44078 "2020-04-20T14:08:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Like, at the time that Gov. DeWine of Ohio shut down all schools in the state indefinitely, the CDC’s recommendation was to close down a school for three weeks, if there was a diagnosis of a student or staff member. Shutting down one school at a time, for three weeks, when there’s a diagnosis at that school, is very, very different from shutting down all of them, forever, when there were only five diagnoses in the entire state. Considering the dearth of testing and apparent vigorous asymptomatic spread, I’d guess (and of course it is only a guess) that the complete shutdown helped slow the spread of COVID in Ohio. Three weeks vs indefinite is a different call - I personally like the indefinite since no one really knew how long this would last and it serves to impress upon people that things really were in flux. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44079 "2020-04-20T14:13:51Z")
We fluxed? Yeah, we be fluxed fer sure! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44080 "2020-04-20T14:43:31Z")
Yes, but what is your flux capacity? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44081 "2020-04-20T19:08:53Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > And now, here’s some Republican Stupidity from Idaho (with a dash of antisemitism): > > [Idaho Republican lawmaker says stay-at-home orders are ‘no different’ to sending Jews to concentration camps and compares GOP Gov. Brad Little to Hitler after he extended lockdowns until the end of April](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8235023/Idaho-lawmaker-says-stay-home-orders-no-different-sending-Jews-concentration-camps.html) As noted, the Governor of Idaho is a Republican. Also, Republican Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland has been going around on the news shows contradicting Individual 1’s claims that the governors have everything they need. Hogan is also the Chair of the National Governors’ Conference. ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44082 "2020-04-20T21:53:11Z")
Beat cancer a couple of times and nobody can tell you anything. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44083 "2020-04-20T22:12:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > {…} Like, at the time that Gov. DeWine of Ohio shut down all schools in the state indefinitely, the CDC’s recommendation was to close down a school for three weeks, if there was a diagnosis of a student or staff member. Shutting down one school at a time, for three weeks, when there’s a diagnosis at that school, is very, very different from shutting down all of them, forever, when there were only five diagnoses in the entire state. What dictionary are you using that defines _indefinitely_ and _forever_ as the same thing? CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44084 "2020-04-20T22:14:14Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > How many people have the shutdowns killed? :dubious: \ ***Note: I fully support shelter in place and other precautions and do not advocate ending them early** Serious answer, some unknown amount greater than zero. Here in California, out patient mental health for at risk seniors is no longer happening in person. Programs are working on remote sessions, but that is not ideal for this demographic. People already socially isolated and in distress are more likely to suicide. There are also going to be medical issues missed due to not seeing some patients in person. While I would bet violence and murder between acquaintances and strangers are down, deaths from domestic violence could go up. On the other hand, I would bet we see a significant drop in driving related fatalities. These numbers are hard to even estimate in the moment, but the statistics from this year may show us some of the costs when looked at a year or more from now. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44085 "2020-04-21T10:32:49Z")
I would like to add to the prior post that deaths from regular influenza are also down over the past month or so - which makes sense, as the current restrictions are going to reduce pretty much all communicable diseases. And finally - no school shootings in March. Or so far in April. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44086 "2020-04-21T12:47:02Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > And finally - no school shootings in March. Or so far in April. Heh. Good point. That’s ONE way to solve the problem! ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44087 "2020-04-21T14:55:05Z")
nm (again, sorry) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/44088 "2020-04-21T18:35:34Z")
After Individual 1 issued his shutdown on all immigration, Ainsley Earhardt of Fox News whined “but what about our _au pairs_”? > **['But What Of Our Au Pairs!' Fox's Ainsley Earhardt Wonders Of Trump's...](https://www.wonkette.com/but-what-of-our-au-pairs-foxs-ainsley-earhardt-wonders-of-trumps-immigration-ban)** > > Leopards, faces, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=2203) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=2205)